Starting from December 1, 2025, China’s new mandatory national standard Safety Technical Specification for Electric Bicycles (GB 17761—2024) will be fully implemented, and e-bikes manufactured under the old standard will no longer be permitted for sale. The new standard clearly stipulates that the maximum speed of an electric bicycle is 25 km/h; once this speed is exceeded, the motor must stop providing power, further strengthening the safety baseline at the regulatory level.

Recently, the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (CNCA) issued the Announcement on Strict Administration of Compulsory Product Certification for Electric Bicycles (Announcement No. 25 of 2025), setting out explicit requirements for certification and sales. All valid CCC certificates issued under the old standard by designated certification bodies will be revoked on December 1, 2025. Certificates that are currently suspended and cannot be restored to valid status will also be canceled on the same data. From the data of revocation or cancellation, the related products may no longer be sold, and violations will be the law. It is important to note that electric bicycles already sold and currently in use under the old standard may continue to be used, and vehicles purchased by consumers that do not meet the new standard will not be forcibly phased out.

The new national standard has been in force since September 1, 2025, representing a comprehensive upgrade over the old standard in terms of safety and supervision. First, at the level of material safety, stricter fire-retardant requirements for non-metallic materials have been introduced, with the total mass of plastics for the e-bikes clearly limited to no more than 5.5%, effectively reducing fire risks. At the same time, anti-tampering technologies for battery packs, controllers, and speed limiters have been further improved to curb illegal modifications and overspeeding at the source, while braking performance requirements have been raised to reduce traffic accident risks.

In terms of e-bike performance and user experience, the maximum total mass of lead-acid battery models has been increased from 55 kg to 63 kg, balancing safety and cruising range. The new standard also removes the mandatory requirement for all models to be equipped with pedal plate, making use more convenient. With regard to intelligence and safety features, the new standard adds Beidou positioning, communication, and dynamic safety monitoring functions to enable real-time tracking of vehicle status, and explicitly encourages the installation of rearview mirrors to further enhance riding safety.

With the full transition to the new national standard on December 1, China’s electric bicycle industry will accelerate into a new stage of development centered on safety and based on standardized regulation. The continued implementation of these policies will not only provide consumers with more secure travel protection, but also promote the industry’s steady progress toward higher quality and greater sustainability.